Filtering device for washing machines



W. L. GUTHRIE FILTERING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. l5, 1951 Nov. l, 1955 United States Patent O FILTERING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES William L. Guthrie, Miami, Fla.

Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 206,108

2 Claims. (Cl. 68-134) The present invention relates to filtering devices for water in a washing machine, and has for its special purpose to provide a device of the character described which is attached to the underneath portion of the agitator of a washing machine.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a ilter for washing machines which will continually remove lint, sand and other foreign matter from the water as the clothes are being washed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device as described in which the filtering elements are easily cleaned or replaced.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a filtering device which is very eilicient, and yet inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view of a washing machine agitator with the invention attached, part of the agitator being broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the agitator partially broken away, showing the vanes of the plate attached to the agitator.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of an alternate construction of the filtering member taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the preferred form of the filtering element taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In washing machines there is a great amount of dirt, lint, sand and other foreign substances which are removed from clothes and continually contact the clothes during the cleaning operation. This is very undesirable, for many reasons, one being the deposition of bers of a light material upon a dark material or vice versa such as socks, shirts etc. These bers, commonly called lint are difficult to remove, as they are often forced into the material by the force of the washing operation. Also the abrasive action of sand as it continually rubs against the clothes will shorten the life of the clothes.

The water will not have to be changed as often, as the dirt and lint will be continually removed, thus keeping the water clean. The water in present day machines is thrown away when it still retains much of its cleaning properties, due to the amount of lint in suspension which has been removed from a prior washing. With the present invention, the wash water may be used until its cleaning properties are exhausted, thus saving time, soap, and money.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like numerals represent like parts throughout the drawing, the numeral represents the agitator, said agitator being rigidly attached to a driving shaft 11. The bottom plate 12 of the agitator is provided with a plurality of bores that receive bolts 13 that secure the plate 14 of the ltering unit to the plate 12. Plate 14 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed vanes 15, that taper toward 2,722,118 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 the peripheral edge of the plate 14, the vanes being equidistantly disposed on the plate 14 providing channels for the egress of water. Due to the radial disposition of the vanes 15, the distance between the vanes at their outer ends is greater than at their inner ends, the outer ends being open. The space between the inner ends of the vanes 15 are closed by a circular screen 16 that filters the water. By tapering the top edges of the vanes 15, they conform to the contour of the plate 12 of the agitator, thus eliminating any passage of water between the plate 12 and the top edges of the vanes.

Screen 16 is held in position as shown in Figure 4 by means of a split-cup shaped locking ring 17 bearing against the inner lower periphery of screen 16 thus forcing screen 16 against the upturned lip 18 of the plate 14 that forms a central aperture in the plate 14. As shown in Figure l, the agitator is shown positioned in the tub of a washing machine that is represented by the dotted lines 19.

In Figure 3 an alternate construction is shown without a locking ring, the screen 16 fitting over the upturned lip 18 instead of inside of it as shown in Figure 4, the preferred embodiment of the device.

In operation of the device, clothes, soap and water are placed in a machine, the motor then turned on, the agitator 10 starts its oscillatory movement. This oscillating of the agitator causes the water in tub 19 to travel in a certain path, as shown by the arrows in Figure 4. The agitator causes regurgitation of the water and causes it to travel at a fast rate of speed carrying with it all foreign matter such as lint, dirt, sand, etc. As the water moves and when it passes upwardly through the central opening in plate 14, the foreign substances are separated from the water by screen 16. The heavier matter such as sand, dirt, etc. will drop olf the screen into the cupshaped split locking ring 17, while the lighter substances such as lint, paper particles, etc. will adhere to the screen. The water is therefore continually filtered as the clothes are washed, the ltered water passing between the vanes 15, free of foreign substances, thus allowing the water to be used over and over again.

The screen and the locking ring are easily removed for cleaning when necessary in the form of the invention shown in Figure 4 and in the form of the invention shown in Figure 3 it is only necessary to remove the screen.

Changes in detail and construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A water cleaning device for washing machines comprising an agitator of the type having a substantially horizontal bottom plate integral therewith, a plate having a central aperture beneath said agitator plate and spaced therefrom by a plurality of radially disposed vanes, an upturned llange around the periphery of said central aperture, a cylindrical screen and a locking ring within said central aperture, said locking ring holding the lower portion of said screen against said upturned flange, the upper portion of said screen abutting against said bottom plate.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, in which said locking ring is channel shaped to receive coarse particles separated from the water.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,280 Kirby Dec. 8, 1931 1,745,177 Markley lan. 28, 1930 1,756,318 Voss Apr. 29, 1930 1,917,867 Barker July 11, 1933 2,021,097 Maus Nov. l2, 1935 2,235,452 Kirby Mar. 18, 1941 2,299,554 McMahan Oct. 20, 1942 2,642,733 McCormick June 23, 1953 

